A Michigan man with a long criminal history has been charged after a two-year-old boy died from a gunshot wound when he was left alone in a car.
Avis Damone Coward, 44, is allegedly the owner of the gun that led to the death of the toddler on October 24.
Coward had left his SUV at a gas station in Lansing aroudn 3pm and went into the store, leaving the child and the boy’s mother in the vehicle.
According to the US Attorney’s Office, a minute later, a bullet pierced the car’s window.
The mother was then seen getting out of the car with the child, who had apparent blood on his face. The gun was then seen falling out of the car.
Avis Damone Coward, 44, is the owner of the gun that led to the death of the toddler on October 24
On that day at around 3 p.m., Coward left his SUV at a gas station in Lansing and went inside the store, leaving the child and the boy’s mother in the car. According to the US Attorney’s Office, a minute later, a bullet hole was apparent in the vehicle window. The gun eventually falls to the ground
The unidentified two-year-old later died from his injuries. Coward returned to the vehicle, found the gun, picked it up and put it back inside before closing the door and smashing the window with his hand.
He then drives away. The 44-year-old was arrested later that day by local authorities but the SUV was missing.
Police allege that while in jail, Coward called a woman and requested he find his ‘phones,’ which they believe were code for firearms.
The next day, Coward called the woman again as well as a man, using the same code and led investigators to track them down.
They discovered two handguns, a BB gun and five grams of meth. They immediately arrested the man, who told them Coward let him know where the guns were.
It took another week to find the SUV in which the child had fatally shot himself. It was found completely burned out in a field.
Coward has a criminal history dating back to 1998, with six felony convictions under his belt.
Coward returned to the vehicle, found the gun, picked it up and put it back inside before closing the door and smashing the window with his hand. He then drives away
It took a week to find the SUV in which the child had fatally shot himself. It was found completely burned out in a field
Coward called a woman and a man using phones as a codeword for guns, which led investigators to track them down. They discovered two handguns, a BB gun and five grams of meth
In that year alone, he was convicted of felony breaking and entering and carrying a concealed weapon.
The next year, he was convicted of delivery or manufacture of a controlled substance.
In 2003, he was convicted for brandishing a firearm during the commission of a violent felony.
‘Death of child by gunfire is a story that should never be written,’ said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten.
‘Yet beginning in 2022, and for the first time ever, gun violence has become the number one cause of death for kids in America.’
The SUV was found burned out in a field in Lansing
Coward has a criminal history dating back to 1998, with six felony convictions under his belt
Totten made no mention of Coward’s past as a six-time felon but believes gun control will stop further tragedies.
‘As this swelling epidemic reaches our most innocent, my office will use every resource available to secure full accountability and prevent future harm.’
The tragic death of the two-year-old boy remains under investigation and further charges may yet be filed, according to People.